Automatic electric indicator system



(No Modl.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. E. PAINTER. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC INDICATORSYSTEM.

No. 559,038. Patnted Apr. 28, 1896.

Invenior:

ANDREW EGRAHAM. FHOTOUTHILWASNIN GTONJIC (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' G. E. PAINTER. 7

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC INDICATOR SYSTEM. No. 559,038. Patented Apr. 28,1896.

a iieszfi- Jhvenor:

flak/way AN DREW B GRAHAM. PHOTDTJTHQWASH IN GTON. D C

(N0 Mudel.) 6 Sheets-Sheefi 3.

G. E. P'AINTER. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC INDICATOR SYSTEM.

N0. 559,038. Patented Apr. 28, 1896.

, Inverror: Zw I ANDREW EGRANAM.PHUYUUTHQWASHINBTUKDL (No Model.) 6Sheets-Sneet 4.

G. E. PAINTER.v

AUTO'MATIG ELEGTRIG INDIGATOR SYSTEM. No. 559,038. Patented Apr. 28,1896.

(No Model.) 6 SheetsSh eet 5.

G. E. PAINTER. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC INDICATOR SYSTEM.

No. 559,038. PatentedApr. 28, 1896. Y

.jhzesz I .Zhvenzfor:

ANDREW BJSRAHAM. FHUTO-LHHD.WA5HIN6TON.D C

(No Model.) e Sheets-Sheet a.

G. E. PAINTER. AUTOMATIC ELBGTRIG INDIGAI'OR SYSTEM. No. 559,038.

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@FMWM l lIillllliiliflllm ANDRDN EGHANAM. PHUTO-IITNQWASNINGTDN. DVD.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

GIVYNNE ERNEST PAINTER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC INDICATOR SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 559,038, dated April 28,1896. Application filed February 26, 1895: Renewed November 1,1895.$erial lie. 567,656. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GWYNNE ERNEST PAINTER, of the city of Baltimore, inthe State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Automatic Electric Indicator 0r Signaling Systems; and I do herebydeclare that the following specification, taken in connection with thedrawings furnished and forming a part of the same, is a clear, true, andcomplete description of my invention.

My said improvements pertain to that general class of automatic electricindicator systems wl1ich,under various names, have been devised forindicating at one or more instruments the precise extent of mechanicalmotion at an electrically-coupled distant instrument,regardless of thecharacter of the source of power upon which said motion depends or thespecial service intended--as, for instance, when used upon ships forindicating at the pilot-house and also, perhaps, at various other partsof the vessel, the exact position of the rudder; also, when used uponthe land for indicating at one or more distant points the rise and fallof water in mines and reservoirs or the contents of tanks for water andoil, and especially for pipe-lines; also, for indicating the directionof the wind, as well as for many other lines of service involving moreor less similar conditions. In each of said (and similar) lines ofservice a mechanically-actuated shaft is necessarily involvedas, forinstance, a rudder-head actuated from a steam steering-machine or asteering-wheel, or a shaft axially moved by a weight and controlled by afloat or actuated by a wind-vaneand such a shaft must be relied upon forimparting the mechanical motion which, in its various interpretations,is to be automatically transmitted from a local electric organization toone or more distant receiving organizations or indicators adapted toimpart the information desired.

The objects of my invention are to secure reliable service and also toprovide durable transmitting and indicating instruments which can beconstructed and installed at reasonable cost, and also to provide anautomatic circuit-breaker for automatically controlling theline-batteries so as to restrict their operation to such times as theyare actually required in transmitting the movements to be indicated.

In a contemporaneous application for patent'(filed February 16, 1895,Serial No. 538,687) I have disclosed many features of invention whichhave been embodied in the apparatus herein disclosed, and it is to beunderstood that the features which constitute the sub ject of thepresent application have been devised with special reference tosignaling apparatus which is automatically controlled by mechanism whichis mechanically actuated for any given purpose.

After describing a complete apparatus in detail, as illustrated in thedrawings, and indicating its mode of operation, the features deemednovel and appropriate to this application will be duly specified in theseveral clauses of claim hereunto annexed.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2, in top and side view withpartial section, respectively illustrate the electric switchingorganization, which is mechanically actuated by being coupled to anymechanically-actuated shaft or its equivalent. Fig. 3 is a verticalcentral section of the switch and through the switch-arm. Fig. 4 is atop view of the switch-p1ate and brush-arm. Fig. 5 illustrates in sideelevation the magneto-mecham ical organization which constitutes theindicator, the same being within a suitable casing, shown in verticalcentral section. Fig. 6 is a top View of the indicatondial and itspointer. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the indicatorbelow its dial. Figs. 8,9, and 10 illustrate the automatic circuit-breaker respectively in top,side, and front views. Fig. 11 diagrammaticall y illustrates the entireapparatus with its electric connections and its mechanical connectionwith the stem of a rudder.

The electric switching organization A, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 11,embodies a circular switchboard or composite switch-plate B, supportedin a frame affording upper and lower parallel bars a and a and abrush-arm 0, both of which involve features not present in thecorresponding portion of my disclosures in my aforesaid application.

The switch-plate B includes, with an insulated base I), separate annularconcentric plates 1) and 6 each having contact-surfaces b andcomparatively wide intervening spaces 5 suitably insulated. lVithinthese plates there are four separate annular continuoussurfacedconcentric plates b b b and 19 this latter being the inner or smallest,and all of said plates are suitably insulated from each other, and eachat the under side has a suitable binding-post. The plate, as a whole, isappropriately mounted within a suitable casing.

The brush-arm O is a complex structure, including a main arm 0 and anauxiliary arm cl, which overlies the main arm and is capable of alimited swinging movement independently of the main arm, which, with themode of mounting them on their working shaft D, will be hereinafterfully described.

The main arm 0 carries at one side a brush 0, which sweeps over thebreak-wheel or broken contact-plate b, and at the other side anoppositely projecting brush 0*, which sweeps over the brokencontact-plate b their arrangement being such that when either brush ison metallic cont-act the other has a bearing upon the interveninginsulation. Alongside of the brush 0 there are two other brushes 0 andc, which bear upon the continuous-surfaced annular plates 12 and b, andat the opposite side of the arm there are two similar brushes c, whichbear, respectively, upon the annular plates 13 and Zr.

Each of the brushes, except 0' and 0 have brush-actin g heel-pieceswhich overhang the auxiliary arm (Z, and, as these may be integral withthe brushes or detachably connected thereto, they are not separatelydesignated by letters of reference, it being understood that each'ofsaid brushes is centrally attached to a post and that each is a doublebrush for doing duty at both of its ends.

The auxiliary brush-arm d carries at its outer end three shiftingcontact-plates for appropriately coupling the brushes. The largecontact-plate d is permanently coupled to the brush 0 by means of aspiral conductor, as shown. The smaller contact-plate d is similarlyconnected with the brush c and the smallest contact-plate d iselectrically coupled with the plate 61 by a subconductor. (Not shown,but clearly indicated as a spiral conductor in Fig. 11.) It will now beseen, when the auxiliary arm is moved, say, toward the right hand, thatthe brushes 0 and 0 will be electrically coupled separately toappropriate brushes-1 6., from c by way of contact-plate d to brush cand from c by way of the coiled conductor, the plate (1 and thesubconductor to contact-plate d and thence to brush 0; also, that whenthe auxiliary arm is moved toward the left hand the brush 0 will becoupled to brush a by way of plate (1 and brush 0, byway of plated, willbe coupled to the brush a, so that, according to the direction of themovement of the switch-arm, the brushes c" and c 0 will be either in orout of service.

The auxiliary brush-arm d is restricted in its independent movement bymeans of two lugs e e on the main arm, provided with adjusting-screws 6against the ends of which the sides of the auxiliary arm engage, each ofsaid screws having a lock-nut for preventing displacement.

The brush or switch arm 0, as a whole, is operatively coupled to theworking shaft D by a rigid connection with the auxiliary brusharm d,which, after its independent move ment, carries the main arm with it.

The shank of the main arm is provided with a yoke f, (which maybeattached or integral,) having an axial stem or hub f which is freelyjournaled in the cap-bar a of the frame and projects through it andthrough a dial E on said bar and carries a pointer F. This dial andpointer are needed mainly for the initial adjustment of the switch andfor occasional inspection, the inscription being appropriate forsignaling the position of a ships rudder. On the hub f there is a collarf and this is frictionally clamped between two yoke-jaws at f hinged atone end to the under side of the frame-bar a and at the other end adjustabl'y coupled by a clamp-screw f,- on which there is a spiral springadjustably compressed between the head of the screw and the eoincidentsurface of the adjacent jaw. This arrangement provides for frictionallyholding the main brush-arm against any movement, except when actuated bythe working shaft D through the auxiliary arm d. I

On the working shaft D there is a chainwheel D, through which power isapplied from the source of motion, as will be hereinafter furtherexplained, together with a description of the electrical operation ofthe switch. It may, however, be proper to here state that the two brokencontact-plates Z) and b so far as signaling is concerned, might beconsolidated into one plate with both of the brushes 0 and c cooperatingtherewith, but that the two plates are required for enabling the circuitto be wholly broken (and the generator cut out) at the close of everyworking movement of the switch, as will be hereinafter fully indicated.

The indicator organization G, (shown in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive,) exceptas to the arrangement of its parts and the inscription on thedial,embodies no novel features which are not disclosed in my aforesaidapplicatiomand it is to be understood that I claim the same herein onlyas an element in appropriate combination with the switching organizationdescribed in an automatic signaling system.

The dial E is substantially a counterpart of the dial E at the switch,and being suited for indicating the position of a ships rudder it isinscribed Starboard and Port, with a zero-mark corresponding to theright-line position of the rudder. At either side there aregraduation-marks suitably numbered, indicating degrees of inclination toport or starboard.

The pointer F is carried on a spindle g, suitably mounted in top of theframe it and (All clearly shown in Fig. l.) 7

IIO

rotatively coupled to a driving-shaft 11 by means of a pinion g on thespindle 9, an idler-pinion g and a pinion 1," on the shaft 2 Thedrivingshaft 2' has a step-by -step .movement and the gearing is suchthat the pointer marks one degree at each step movement. On the shaft'ithere are wheels or drums affording two cam-slots K and K, which haveinclined working faces and interveningstop-faces, as clearly indicated,the working faces of either slot being reversed to the other in matterof inclination to provide for opposite rotation. Two armature-levers Zand Z are operatively connected with the shaft i by means of studs orpins which pro ject laterally into the cam-slots, so that when eitherlever is forcibly vibrated the shaft '5 will be rotated step by step inan appropriate direction at each vibration of the lever.

The armature-lever l is actuated by two magnets m and m, which alternatein their action in moving said lever first in one and then in theopposite direction for moving the pointer in one direction, and twoother magnets m and m similarly actuate the armature-lever Z for movingthe pointer in the opposite direction, each magnet having its owncircuit and each two cooperating magnets having circuits independent ofthe other two. Should the source of working current be a dynamo it willnot be so important to provide for cutting out the current whensignaling is not required, as when a batterycurrent is relied upon, andtherefore I do not restrict certain features of my invention to theemployment of an automatic circuitbreaker in my apparatus.

In an electric signaling system wherein the switch is operated by hand,as disclosed in my aforesaid application, the cutting out of a batteryor other generator is effected by means of an auxiliary arm, which isspringmounted and capable in itself of retiring from a contact positionto a cut-out position as soon as the operators hand is removed from theswitch; but in an automatic system the mechanical forces which actuatethe switch are constant, andhence they securely hold the switch at anyposition to which it may have been actuated, and for that reason Iemploy an automatic circuit-breaker H. (Shown in Figs. Sto 10,inclusive.) Considered as an automatic electromagnetic switch, thiscircuit-breaker involves novelty in, the

construction of thedetent or tripping device, which accelerates thearmature-lever n during its closing movements and confines it againstvibration, except when actuated by its magnets.

The lever n has its armature properly located between the poles of thetwo magnets 19 and p, and it has a roller-support on a post at n andstop-screws n n for limiting its lateral vibrative movements. At itsouter end it is provided with an insulating-block, carrying acentrally-located contact-plate q, coupled by a conductor q with abinding-post (1 said conductor extending to and around the axis of thelever and thence to said post, with which the generator line-wire is tobe coupled. One terminal conductor of the coil of magnet 13 is coupledto a post 1 carrying at its top a spring-brush '1", which overlies thearmaturelever, and a similar brush r is mounted upon an opposite post g,which is in turn connected with one terminal of the coil of the othermagnet. The other two terminals of the other magnet coils are coupledwith the main switch, as will be hereinafter described. At the outer endof the armature-lever there is a hard-surfaced shoe 8, (preferablymetal,) having two inclined sides with which a detent-arm 5-, havingreversely-inclined faces, is in engaging-contact. One inclined face ofthe arm is always in contact with the appropriate inclined face of thelever, according to the direction in which said lever has last beenactuated by its magnets. 3 The arm 3 at its other end is pivoted to apost and is provided with an adjustable retractile spring 3 This detentor tripping device is reliable in its action and responds readily tosuchmaking and breaking of contacts as are involved in the. use of thebreak-plates b and b of the switching organization at A. Thecontact-plate g on the armature-lever, when the latter is at rest, isalways in contact with the brush of the terminal of the magnet which isto be next excited, and hence the armature of the lever is in a properposition to be actuated by said magnet.

Should the arm 5 be sufficiently heavy, gravity would cause it tooperate as described, but it would be more liable to displacement byshocks and jars than when controlled by a spring. If desired, either thearms or the lever may be provided with an antifrictionroll at the apexof the inclined faces for facilitating prompt passing of centers, but Ihave experienced no difficulties while relying upon the constructionshown.

It is to be understood, regardless of theconstruction of thecircuit-breaker, that its combination with a switch embodying two brokencontact-plates and appropriate brushes constitutes a feature of myinvention.

Referring now to Fig. 11, it will be understood that a ships rudder at Ihas on its stem or head a chain-wheel D coupled by a chain with thepulley or wheel D on the working shaft D of the switching organizationA. The

indicator organization at G with the pointer F, its spindle g, and thetwo cam-slots K and K are here shown without any gearing, it beingsometimes desirable to mount the pointer directly on said shaft. Thearmature-levers l and Z and their magnets m m and m m are arranged aspreviously described.

The circuit-breaker II, with its lever 12, contact-plate q, magnets 19and p, and brushes 4" r are here shown, and it will be seen thatoneterminal p of the coil of magnet 19 is connected with the outerbroken contact-plate b of the main switch, and that the inner brokencontact-plate Z7 is connected with the coil of the magnet 19 by theterminal 13 and that the armature-lever conductor q is connected withone pole of the battery L. The

armature-lever n of the circuit-breaker is here shown to have been lastactuated by'the: magnet 19, and hence the latter is cut out and thecurrent can next traverse the coil of the magnet 19 to the plate I) of.the main switch,;

wherein under these conditions the brush 0 must be bearing upon aninsulated surface 73 3 while the other brush, 0 is bearing upon acontact-surface b of the then cut out broken contact-plate 11 Should thebrushes of the main switch be now turned by the rudder I toward theright hand, for instance, during, its movement, the lever Z of theindicator G; would be forcibly reciprocatedby its magnets, say, first,by establishing a circuit by way of plate 7), main brush 0, auxiliaryswitch-arm1 plate (1, brush 0 to switch-plate b via 0011- ductor u tocoil of magnet on, thence byconductor u to post w and conductor w tobat-; tery, and by exciting the magnet 19 of the circuit-breaker thisimpulse not only actuates} the indicator armature-lever and pointer onestep in one direction, but also shifts the ar The broken contact-plate bwill enable the brush c to next establish a circuit from said plate and,brush to the contact-plate d brush 0, annu-l lar plate 11 conductor athrough the coil of mature of the circuit-breaker.

magnet m, out on conductor u to post 10,

thence by conductor 10 to the battery and This impulse will actuate thelever l in the opposite direction but 0011- circuit-breaker.

tinue the step movement of the pointer in its old direction, and, byexciting the magnet 19', will shift the connection from that magnet andbroken contact-plate b to the magnet p and broken contact-plate b theinsulation of I this latter then supporting the brush 0 So long as themovement of the main switch-arm continues in that direction, thestep-by-step movement of the pointer will be continued in theappropriate direction, and at the close of each step the circuit will bewholly broken,

and in whatever position the switch-arm may be allowed to rest thebattery or other generator will be always out out. Now when the rudderis moved in the opposite direction the indicatorpointer F promptlyresponds, it being then actuated by the armature-lever Z and itsmagnets, the latter being excited by way of circuits as follows: frombroken contact-plate b to brush c arm-plate d brush a to annular plate bout via conductor a to coil of magnet m thence by conductor tov post w,and from thence through the battery and the circuit-breaker, as before.The magnet on has its circuit from broken contact I) to brush 0,arm-plate (1, brush 0 to annular plate I)", out via conductor u to thecoil of magnet m and thence to post w and through the battery andcircuit-breaker, which always, after or during each pulsation, switchesthe current from that broken contact-plate last on duty to that onewhich has no metallic contact with its brush.

Having thus described my automatic system as applied torudder-indicating, it will be readily understood that each of the manylines of service to which the system is adapted will only require anappropriately inscribed dial and any suitable mechanism for ipositivelycoupling the driving-shaft of the 1 switching organization with themovable element from which the switch-driving power is I to be'derived.

The operation of the switch need only require such power as would beafforded from pressure-gages, whether for steam or other fluids, and theparticular form of indicator described enables reliable service with lowbattery-power, and hence light and comparatively inexpensive cabledconductors can be employed.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In an automatic electric signaling system, thecombination substantially as hereinbefore described, with amechanically-driven shaft, and a pointer-actuating organizationembodying electromagnets, armature-levers, and mechanism for operativelycoupling said levers with the pointer, of a switch which is connected toand mechanically operated by said shaft, is electrically connected withthe indicator, and has a main brush-arm actuated by an auxiliary arm,which carries brushcoupling contacts, is secured to said shaft, and hasa restricted movement independently of the main arm, whereby accordingto the direction in which said shaft may be rotated,

the appropriate pointer-actuating magnets will be excited.

scribed, of a magneto-mechanical organization for actuating a pointerstep by step; a

switch electrically coupled to said organization and provided withappropriate brushes,

and with a pair of switch-plates, each having contact-surfaces widelyseparated by insulation, and an automatic electromagneticcircuit-breaker having electric terminals coupled separately to saidplates, whereby in operating the switch, the electric current isintermittingly applied for working the pointer I o cletent or arm havingsimilarly-in clinecl faces,

for engaging with those on the lever, and operating as a trippingdevice, for mechanically moving said lever, and for confining it, exceptWhen actuated by its magnets, substantially as described.

GVVYNNE ERNEST PAINTER.

Witnesses N. V. RAsIN, A. V. JACOBS.

